28/ MAY 2012 THE RIDER
Ganaraska Forest Horse Club BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2012
President: Jim Higgs Vice-President (Interim): Bob Coleman Secretary: Laurene Winkler Treasurer: Kathy Higgs
www.gfhc.ca
The Ganaraska Forest - A National Treasure!
By Cynthia Armour
For the uninitiated, I tell them “the map looks like a plate of cooked spaghetti. The beautiful sandy trails wind their way for hundreds of kilo- metres through acres of reclaimed farmland that’s now carpeted with towering red pine to shade your journey. For horses, I imagine the sandiest sections are the equine equivalent to walking barefoot on a blanket of vel- vet!”
We are an extremely for- tunate club of riding enthusi- asts with access to 11,000 acres of beautifully main- tained trails an hour east of Toronto. Part of the Oak Ridges Moraine where nine watersheds meet, this conser- vation area is a national trea- sure. The Ganaraska Forest Horse Club (GFHC) shares this incredible space with a variety of users. There are three separate and distinct sec-
tions. The central forest wel- comes steeds, bicycles and humans, relying on the latter to understand each other’s passions and respect individu- al preferences.
Our club plays an active role in strengthening opportu- nities in the forest, particularly for horse-lovers. With some support from the Ontario Equestrian Federation, labour by dedicated GFHC members and oversight from forestry staff, a special parking lot that’s large enough for several trailers is provided for your convenience. There is also water available at that site for your steeds. Entrance to the lot is just before the park’s main gate so watch for the signs as you’re driving into the Central Forest. Inside the park is a solid paddock to safely leave your horse while you grab a bite of food at the canteen or use the
facilities...complete with run-
ning water.
The Central Forest also houses the Visitor’s Centre, a striking structure where we hold our Annual General Meeting. At the latest AGM we heard from Mike King, Intercity Insurance who helped enlighten us on our equine risk-management needs. Don’t forget, lapsed membership to the Ontario Equestrian Federation leaves a gap in your coverage so be sure to speak to your broker and clarify your
situation...transparency is the best approach. We had an update from two Conservation Authority staff who continue to appreciate the partnership with GFHC members and the help they receive with con- struction projects, garbage clean up, trail maintenance and volunteer patrol.
The West and East sec- tions allow motorized vehi- cles. Rules of etiquette are
Membership: Gail Reid PR Director: Barry Kamore Correspondence: Beth Lamore Director at Large: Linda Young
May 12th (Saturday) June 2nd (Saturday) July 1st (Sunday) July 21st/22nd
August 18th or 19th
Calendar of events for GFHC in 2012 Early Bird Ride
Poker Ride
September 8th (Saturday) Skills Ride October 7th (Sunday)
Canada Day Parade. TBD Camping event Education Day
October 28th (Sunday) Halloween Ride November/December
Cool Colours Ride
Central Forest TBD
Santa Claus Parade(s) TBD Clip & Save!!
Central Forest East Forest East Forest
TBD East Forest
shared with multi-users and for the most part we all work together, understanding that education is ongoing. The for- est relies on payment of user fees to manage effectively so be sure to join or purchase a day pass when visiting on your own.
(Go to
http://www.grca.on.ca/forest- members.html for details). If you do happen to come inde- pendently, notify someone of your plans, have a map, com- pass and cell phone handy, understanding that reception could be patchy. As men- tioned, the forest trails mean-
der and even those familiar with the area can get disorient- ed at times. That’s a perfect reason to come out to our sponsored rides!
See
www.gfhc.ca for more infor- mation and 2012 schedule. See you May 12 or June
2 Happy Trails!
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72